Search found 2145 matches

by Ricard with an H
Wed Dec 27, 2017 2:51 pm
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: More moles stories.
Replies: 12
Views: 11814

Re: More moles stories.

I did stomping Westi, it's easy and satisfying to feel the earth cave in beneath my feet but I didn't think it deterred the Pembrokeshire breed.

The mole-man cleared my moles on a regular basis but they always return in most locations.
by Ricard with an H
Sat Dec 16, 2017 7:08 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: Fresh lawn clipping as mulch
Replies: 42
Views: 23481

Re: Fresh lawn clipping as mulch

I only compost grass cuttings now by mixing straw in to stop that build up of slimy material, I suppose having a ready source of straw from the barns next too us makes that easy. I have daffodils sprouting through grass cuttings, presumably because the cuttings kept the soil warm. On a negative note...
by Ricard with an H
Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:30 am
Forum: Seasonal tips
Topic: Fresh lawn clipping as mulch
Replies: 42
Views: 23481

Re: Fresh lawn clipping as mulch

Oh-yes, that reminded me. The best grass klippings I ever had and used around the garden was when I used a blower over a dry period of over a week on the grass cutting from the paddock. I kept blowing them around in much the same way as the farmers round here turn the silage cuttings to dry them, th...
by Ricard with an H
Tue Dec 05, 2017 11:36 am
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: Report on my new Propane burner.
Replies: 17
Views: 9579

Re: Report on my new Propane burner.

I did a test on a raised bed by heavy burning with light burning on another bed. The heavily burnt bed is just starting to produce a few weeds whereas the lightly burnt one produced weeds quickly. Worms have returned quickly in both cases. When dealing with deep rooted perennials I found that just b...
by Ricard with an H
Sat Oct 28, 2017 7:22 am
Forum: Weeds, Pests and Diseases
Topic: Organic control of Allium "White rot".
Replies: 15
Views: 14235

Re: Organic control of Allium "White rot".

Chemical residues stay in the vegetable you treat and so you can a dot the chemicals that you treated the pests with.
by Ricard with an H
Sun Oct 08, 2017 8:30 am
Forum: Cooking tips
Topic: I'm not good at following recipes.
Replies: 12
Views: 10627

Re: I'm not good at following recipes.

Ok, take bread making. At least I can offer some qualified comment because I'm still making bread that wouldn't hold up too the recent explosion of artisan bakers. Most bread making recipes do not illustrate the importance of some techniques, they don't even illustrate important techniques and in on...
by Ricard with an H
Sat Oct 07, 2017 4:36 pm
Forum: Cooking tips
Topic: I'm not good at following recipes.
Replies: 12
Views: 10627

I'm not good at following recipes.

Probably because I followed recipes that may have been poorly researched and I do know that many cook books in the past had 'page fillers'. Then there is the issue of opinion when it comes to the outcome. I cooked for a family of five during my early adult years, mostly I regarded cookbook recipes a...
by Ricard with an H
Sat Oct 07, 2017 7:36 am
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"
Replies: 11
Views: 6895

Re: Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"

This may be of interest, Sabatier. We have one Sabatier knife, as far as I can remember Sabatier were a top brand though I recently found that the name Sabatier is used by many manufacturers. Sabatier doesn't seem to be a protected brand name. Ours is called Lion Sabatier, because that didn't mean m...
by Ricard with an H
Fri Oct 06, 2017 12:10 pm
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"
Replies: 11
Views: 6895

Re: Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"

The Global knives are to be aspired to. They also do a Damascus range. I think Sheffield is making knives but they don't market themselves like the Germans and now Japan. The blades or steel on my chefs set were made in Sheffield and stamped with the Rockwell hardness and metallurgical make up but u...
by Ricard with an H
Fri Oct 06, 2017 7:26 am
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"
Replies: 11
Views: 6895

Re: Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"

I don't have the knife skills of a chef though I improved over the years to such an extent I stopped using the mandolin which I found dangerous because I'm so tight fisted I don't like to waste a lump of veg to hold onto. The mandolin I bought was a professional type, I would have been better buying...
by Ricard with an H
Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:05 pm
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"
Replies: 11
Views: 6895

Re: Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"

Tony. God (Or whoever) gave the grape (Fruit) to all men great and small, little fools drink to much, big fools not at all. Seems I'm in good company. I never drink tea or coffee after midday, it's bad for you because both stop the absorption of something though have been proven to be beneficial. (S...
by Ricard with an H
Thu Oct 05, 2017 8:43 am
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"
Replies: 11
Views: 6895

Knives again. Another new "Boys toy"

Although I have a very good set of chefs knives that have a hardness of 58 (Rockwell) ever since Alan posted a photo of his Wusthof Santuko I have wanted one, it's the blade shape for cutting veg and salads in particular that I felt it was a need though have batted it back for two years. Traditional...
by Ricard with an H
Thu Oct 05, 2017 6:25 am
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: Report on my new Propane burner.
Replies: 17
Views: 9579

Re: Report on my new Propane burner.

Burn the cow poo, yes, of course. Those nettle roots that are easy to spot are so prolific in my beds that burning would be the only solution. Hopefully, the final solution. I don't have a days work in me these days though I usually manage four to six hours of pottering about, some days are better t...
by Ricard with an H
Wed Oct 04, 2017 3:52 pm
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: Report on my new Propane burner.
Replies: 17
Views: 9579

Re: Report on my new Propane burner.

It was a comment by you that gave me a clue, way back and i don't remember the topic.

As regards keeping the driveway clear of weeds this may be a 50% saving on costs compared to chemicals and I dread to think of the legacy I leave using chemicals in the ground whatever the pharmaceuticals say.
by Ricard with an H
Wed Oct 04, 2017 12:18 pm
Forum: Tools and Machinery
Topic: Report on my new Propane burner.
Replies: 17
Views: 9579

Re: Report on my new Propane burner.

I'm on a burning frenzy this morning, in fact I'm on 'Jobs-to-be-done' frenzy. Already did two roofing repairs where slates had slipped and now I'm going around picking of unsightly weeds going out of the chipping.

Here is my new 'Boys-toy'.